trippwj

Looks like a nice model - will enjoy watching the build!

Here is the excerpt from that book - hope it helps!

Guy - Not a bad topic at all! there are a few of us here interested in these old sidewheelers - would be interested in working with you on this but not sure where to start research wise. I am really nowhere close to a good natucial research library!

Commander Sjors, SIR! Admirable work on this fine vessel! She is a pretty thing to see, and what's that - did you bring her down to the kitchen????? Well done - a beauty to behold.

That's a pretty looking boat - hope you don't mind if I follow along!

Carl, Carl, Carl...would I do that to you fine folk here at MSW????? Progress is decidely slow right now, but there has been some. I have built the build board, recruited additional workers (courtesy of Maurys) and we are preparing to lay the keel this weekend. The PHTS crew preparing the building ways. Verifying the squareness and alignment Checking for the fit of the scarph. A bit of sanding to remove the char then, this weekend, the keel gets laid and start work on figuring out where that rascally rabbet goes!!!

Excellent point, Pav! From wikipedia: The basic unit is the Russian cubit, called arshin, which has been in use since the 16th century. It was standardized by Peter the Great in the 18th century to measure exactly twenty-eight English inches (71.1 cm). Thus, 80 vershoks = 20 piads = 5 arshins = 140 English inches. A piad (пядь, “palm”, “five”) or chetvert (че́тверть, “quarter”) is a hand span, the distance between ends of the spread thumb and index finger.

One would certainly hope that she was much broader below the waterline! That is one narrow deck!!!

The other challenge for brailed sails would be some lines to brail them in to the mast. Based on the sail and rigging plan, there weren't any on this one. Also, the foot of the sail would need some way of moving along the gaff. Agree on the ratlines making things easier, though there are quite a few shown in Marquardt's The Global Schooner that have shrouds without ratlines. Also in Pilots, Vol 1 by Tom Cunliffe there are numerous drawings of New York pilot boats from the mid to late 19th century that do not have ratlines on the shrouds, most also having a loose-footed foresail. This one viewable (partially) at http://books.google.com/books?isbn=0937822698

looking very good, Mobbsie! Still amazed at the size of that beastie! Enjoy the weather - I think we have your rain here today!

Looking really good, Robbyn. For gluing in the gels, you may want to take a look at Popeye's build log for the Lobsie Twins - he lists something there that he uses that doesn't fog the insert. Have a great trip to Nebraska and try not to spoil the kids too much...

Hmmm...Sjors building the largest decked sailing warship ever - Aggy as the base, then Le Mirage & the SI on top - not sure about the sailing stability, but would sure be interesting to see! Fly fishing from the Niagara sounds interesting as well - almost makes me want to learn fly fishing! Your Syren is looking awesome, Augie - enjoy the flights!

Dr. Per - click on Use Full editor when you are typing a post and you get the add files option. Look forward to seeing the plan holder!

Harvey - The green lines are the lifts for the fore course. The topsaill and top gallant yards also have fixed lifts and a halliard to raise/lower. See the two snippets from the isntruction manual below (very similar to what is shown in Underhill and Murphy & Jeffers). Keith - Thanks for stopping by! Has been a year (as of this past Sunday) since I bought the lady, but still having fun with it. Probably another month or two before I can say she is finished.

Just a smidgen - a little bit of careful file work on the sides, ends and throat and they are scale at about 18" long. Figured that was probably close enough at this scale!!!

Good evening (or insert appropriate time of day for your location). Finally, I have a small amount of progress I can show you. As I mentioned, I have been working on rigging the main mast. Lots of little pieces here. Start with 4 deadeyes for the topmast shrouds. Then, on the forward side of the top, need to have 2 blocks for the fore tops'l braces. On the aft side, 3 blocks for the gaff rigging. I still need to add one more block at the crosstree level for the gaff head. This view is rather close - as you can see, there is still some cleaning up to do on the pieces. Looks much better from 12 inches without the magnification. Also still working on the main boom. Need to add 2 more cleats. The jaw saddle is simply rigging thread wrapped around the mast then stiffened with CA. Parrell is thread with 1mm beads (smallest I could find). So, continuing to work on the gaff, getting ready to pre-mount the chains and deadeyes for the main mast then it will be time to step the main mast. Will not be mounting the gaff until after I step the mast. Many thanks - advice, suggestions or recommendations are always desired and graciously recieved!

Regrettably, there were far more instances of reprisals against the civilian population in many conflicts of the 16th through early 19th centuries. There are innumerable documented instances of requirements for tribute or allegiance at the risk of loosing all to bombardment or wanton destruction. That was the nature of warfare and, in some cases, governance in those days. Much more civilized now, however (tongue firmly in cheek, mind you).

That would be correct based on information I have come across in a couple of books (I can try and find the references tonight if interested). Apparently they provided, while not having the same level of the ease as the ratlines, at least a method of getting aloft without the use of a bosuns seat.

The foresail would be lowered to the deck level and furled there. The Main topmast staysail would be lowered to the foremast using the downhaul. Crew would use the mast rings to access the topmast. On the gaff topsail, a similar process - would be brought to the main mast using the downhaul, then lowered to the level of the cap. Access again via the mast rings.

Dang, Pete - I sold my old 300 baud modem last week....

For an interesting analysis of the international background (note that the major impetus was between the world wars and then subsequent to WW2), see the attached document from the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities. A plethora of information is also available on the Tideland Signal website at http://www.tidelandsignal.com/web/html/IALA-CD.htm MBS1.pdf

Great job on these, Sjors - very nice looking!!!

Thanks, Augie. Back in my youth, we would go fishing out of Mattapoisett - best fishing for Tautog was usually at Nun 8, and the best area for blues was around Can 3.

The US Coast Guard has an interesting summary of the evolution of channel buoy in the US. Some excerpts here (full story is at http://www.uscg.mil/history/weblighthouses/h_buoys.asp ). Early buoyage descriptions are far from complete. The Collectors of Customs contracted with local pilots and other concerns for the establishment and maintenance of minor aids on an annual basis. Spar buoys, made of long cedar or juniper poles, and cask buoys were the predominant buoys in U.S. coastal waters until the 1840s. The United States did not have a standard system of buoyage until 1848. Colors, shapes and sizes varied from port to port. This lack of regulation gave individual contractors free reign to decide the types of buoys necessary for a given area or harbor. By 1846, Secretary of the Treasury Robert L. Walker knew the time for change had come. He admitted that buoys placed by local authorities under loose regulations, coupled with the lack of standardized colors and numbers, were practically useless. Congress, sensitive to complaints about the ATON (Aids To Navigation) system, began taking steps to correct the problems in 1848. It adopted the Lateral System for implementation nationwide. It is from the Lateral System that the familiar "right, red, return" has its origin. Armed with its mandate to correct and improve aids, the newly-established Lighthouse Board stumbled into action. The board made every effort to learn from the advances of lighthouse construction and buoyage in Europe, which was far ahead of the United States. The governments of Great Britain and France placed considerable emphasis on the maintenance of safe sea roads. Under the stricter eye of the Lighthouse Board, buoyage in the United States steadily improved. Spars and cask buoys gave way to can- and nun-shaped riveted iron buoys. These buoys were set according to the Lateral System: red nuns to the starboard of channels as observed by ships returning to port, and black can buoys to the port. The board also standardized sizes to maximize visibility. This system continues in use even today, except that can buoys are now painted green. Tests in the 1970s showed that green is more highly visible from a greater distance. The board began purchasing buoys through inspectors and superintendents in individual districts. It would be interesting to see what the practice was in the mid 19th century in Europe, particularly Britain and France where the Lighthouse Board looked for "best practices".

Sorry Sarah - not the Red Jacket (and they are difficult to tell apart!). Spyglass - you are correct - it is indeed the Nightingale. She carried Jenny Lind as her figure head, and there are some interesting tales concerning the figurehead still today! Your turn, Spyglass!